Aurora officials gave high marks this week to Hollywood Casino-Aurora for both the progress being made at its new casino resort site and for the use of local contractors on the project.

Standing among the gravel on a makeshift stage in front of the beginnings of a large parking garage at the site, Mayor Richard Irvin said “Hollywood is stepping up big” in Aurora, by building the tallest building in the city since 1974, having already passed 350 inspections, using local contractors and putting up one of the largest casinos in the country outside Las Vegas.

Irvin was part of a city update on the casino project at Farnsworth Avenue and Bilter Road on the northeast side, one of several the mayor promised as the project proceeds.

“We are making exceptional progress,” Irvin said. “This will be something we can be proud of.”

To accent that, representatives of companies Viking Brothers, Inc., a trucking firm; ATMI Precast, a precast concrete firm; and Olsson Roofing Company, Inc. spoke about how positive the experience of working on the project has been.

“They have a great team out here, running this,” said Jake Armbruster, of ATMI Precast, bringing all of the people his company has working on the project up to the makeshift stage. “We are contributing to the redevelopment of our city, and we’re proud to be a part of it.”

Mike Reynolds, a born and bred Auroran, said his company, Olsson Roofing, based on the city’s southwest side, is 110 years old this year.

“We’re so proud to be part of such as landmark project,” he said.

Greg Moore, vice president and CEO of Hollywood Casino-Aurora, said the company is holding another fair in November to find more local businesses to work with on the project.

He said the good weather has allowed the casino project to proceed well, and company officials are still looking at the first half of 2026 for the grand opening.

“We’re giving ourselves a little wiggle room,” he said, “depending on how the winters treat us.”

slord@tribpub.com